May 14, 2009
Chief Justice to Deliver OSBA Address
Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer today spoke of tough economic times and how Ohio courts are meeting increased caseloads and budgetary challenges by becoming more efficient.
Chief Justice Moyer’s remarks to members of the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) today opened the 129th Annual OSBA Convention in Cleveland. The complete text of his remarks is available for download here.
“In much the same manner that the demand for legal advice and assistance continues unabated during an economic downtown,” Chief Justice Moyer said, “so too the courts continue to address growing dockets involving mortgage foreclosure and mental illness … and criminal matters ranging from identity theft to domestic violence.”
Chief Justice Moyer cited efficiency examples such as:
- A pilot program in a handful of counties for business to business legal disputes that offers an efficient docket managed by a judge knowledgeable in commercial litigation. “I firmly believe that commercial dockets will be both an effective case management tool for the courts and will provide the efficiency and predictability necessary for a prosperous business environment,” he said.
- A statewide justice information exchange network – the Ohio Courts Network – that will enable the judiciary to ensure the efficient use of public funds appropriated to the judicial branch by studying the effectiveness of system-wide court initiatives.
- The availability of foreclosure mediation in all 88 counties to stem the surge of foreclosure cases filling dockets of common pleas courts.
- Continued efforts to combine part-time courts into one court and consolidating part-time judgeships into full-time judgeships.
As for budgetary concerns, Chief Justice Moyer pledged to continue to review the Supreme Court’s budget and reminded other courts to analyze their expenditures in view of diminishing resources with a critical eye. He also acknowledged the inherent competing interests between local courts and local funding authorities when the economy squeezes budgets.
“I recognize that some county and city funding authorities have challenged courts to accept reduced budgets that could severely inhibit those courts from executing their constitutional responsibility,” Chief Justice Moyer said. “Courts across the state have reduced spending, cut staff, and made reductions through temporary furloughs. Courts are different than public agencies. We can compromise on budgets, but we cannot compromise on justice.”
The Supreme Court has achieved a projected $1.5 million reduction in spending for the current fiscal year through the elimination of seven positions, and other measures.
Over the past four fiscal years, the Court has saved a total of more than $11 million through reduced budget appropriations and unspent moneys returned to the state treasury.
The Ohio State Bar Association is a voluntary association representing approximately 25,000 members of the bench and bar of Ohio as well as nearly 4,000 legal assistants and law students.
Supreme Court Contacts: Chris Davey or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250
OSBA Contact: Ken Brown, 614.746.245.7